Canopy support

ABSTRACT

An expandable and collapsible canopy support having telescoping legs, a cantilevered roof truss, a plurality of scissored assemblies, and non-compressible pivoting mounting devices, operating to expand the canopy support for use, and operating to collapse the canopy support for storage. The canopy support comprises scissored assemblies, sliding and stationary pivotal mounts, a center dome assembly, and a cantilevered roof support assembly supporting the apex of a canopy. The preferred embodiment provides increased headroom beneath the canopy support, resistance to lateral deflections and torque on scissor elements during expansion and collapsing of the canopy structure, and resistance to vertical deflection of the canopy support and covering. The corner and center mounts have offset flanges which engage forked sockets on the end of each strut, and are secured by non-compressive bolts to form a freely pivoting support structure for strut assemblies during expanding and collapsing of the framework.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to improvements in frameworkstructures capable of supporting a canopy when placed on top of theframework, and in particular, a canopy support that can be collapsed forstorage and expanded when used. Specifically, the present inventionrelates to a canopy support providing increased headroom, and anon-compressible pivoting mounting mechanism which captures end portionsof truss assemblies, and minimizes torque and deflection encounteredduring deployment and operation.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Collapsible shelters and canopies are well known in the relatedart. These shelters typically employ an interconnecting framework ofstruts and mounts which may be collapsed for storage and expanded whentheir use is required, all with a minimum amount of time and effort.These frameworks typically support a lightweight fabric roof or coveringproviding shade or protection from the elements. Sophisticated and highquality collapsible structures have been designed based upon scissorassemblies and pivot mounts providing sturdy structures with varyingsuccess in resisting lateral and torsional deflections.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,656 issued Aug. 26, 1986, to M. Carter, andU.S. Pat. No. 4,885,891 issued Dec. 12, 1989, to J. Lynch, both describeportable canopy structures which have a framework that is collapsed intoa stored state and expanded for use. The frameworks including aplurality of upright support members with a plurality of edge scissorassemblies forming truss members for the expandable framework. Bothinclude embodiments with a roof support assembly formed from one or moreinternal scissor assemblies extending between facing sides edgeassembles and are received by central mounts. A problem experienced bythese structures is that the edge scissor assemblies were subjected tolateral forces during expansion and collapsing. In addition, compressionmounts connect the scissor assemblies to the corner supports, which, iftightened, are subject to shearing forces upon lateral deflection.Furthermore, although both provide a domed-like central supportstructure, the scissor mechanism required for stability and to extendand collapse the structure has a diminishing effect on the headroomunder the dome.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,356, issued Jun. 6, 1995, to J. Lynch,addresses several of these defects. A pair of stationary and slidingmounts capture the truss members in channel shaped sockets formed bypair of parallel spaced apart sidewalls. The channel shaped sockets helpreduce the shearing effect. However, it is still found that theinterconnection of the truss assemblies in a pivotalexpandable/collapsible manner to corner and central post supportscreates lateral deflections that may snap the truss at the channelsocket. In addition, the scissor assembly interconnecting the facingsides edge assembles to the center dome encroaches upon the headroombeneath the dome of the framework. Lynch provides an alternativeembodiment to address the issue of reduced headroom by eliminating thescissor assembly in the roof assembly, but the result is reduced canopysupport and the need for a spring loaded center post to absorb verticaldeflections of the canopy.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,224 issued May 7, 2002, to Carter, attemptedto provide a central hub support which did not detract from the interiorheadroom by utilizing a single hinged truss extending from each of thefour corner posts instead of a scissor mechanism. This design suffersfrom the lack of stability, the single truss subjecting the canopyframework to vertical deflections.

[0008] Hub assemblies and hinge mechanisms for folding or collapsibleframes are well known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,308 issuedJun. 16, 1987, to Reilly relates to a corner joint with at least oneflange extending thereof. A pivoting support means is provided with asplit pin for securing the corner joint to the support means. U.S. Pat.No. 4,838,003, issued Jun. 13, 1989 to Zeigler discloses a hubconsisting of a pair of members having radiating arms, each armpivotally attached to the hub by a flange and slotted mount on the strutand hub respectively. However, these mechanisms do not address the addedcomplexity required when implementing hinged or hub mechanisms forpivoting scissor assemblies.

[0009] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularlyor in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.Thus a canopy support solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is a canopy support comprising scissoredassemblies, sliding and stationary pivotal mounts, a center domeassembly, and a cantilevered roof support assembly supporting the apexof a canopy, providing increased headroom beneath the canopy support,resistance to lateral deflections and torque on scissor elements duringexpansion and collapsing of the canopy structure, and providingresistance to vertical deflection of the canopy support and covering.

[0011] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to providea new and useful canopy support particularly adapted for expandableshelters.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide connectingdevices for scissoring elements in truss assemblies which arenon-compressive and horizontally aligned, so as to allow a scissorforming element to freely pivot in the same plane therein and minimizinglateral and torsional deformations of the element.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a center domeassembly which will provide greater headroom beneath the canopy, and iscapable of absorbing vertical deflections of the canopy support andcovering without loss of structural integrity.

[0014] Still another object of the invention is to provide improvedelements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy support according to thepresent invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the canopy support of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the upper endportion of an upright support member with stationary and slide mounts.

[0019]FIG. 4 is an enlarged-scale, detail perspective view of the roofportion of the canopy support.

[0020]FIG. 5 is an enlarged-scale, detail perspective view of the centerdome assembly.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view of a pivotal connection of aroof support strut and an extension strut.

[0022]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a floating bracketaccording to the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a partly exploded, perspective view of the centralstationary mount and central slide mount according to the presentinvention.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fully collapsed canopyframework.

[0025] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026]FIG. 1 illustrates a collapsible canopy support 10 in the fullyerected state, supporting a canopy covering 11 (shown in dot-dashlines). Canopy support 10 is formed by four upright support members 12positioned at the corners thereof, an interconnected framework ofessentially identical scissor assemblies 20, and a roof support assembly98 extending inwardly from each side facing midpoint.

[0027] As best seen in FIG. 2, each upright support member is atelescoping leg structure, with an upper leg structure 16 slidablytelescoped over a lower leg section 14. An otherwise conventionalsnap-lock including an abutment button 40, biased outwardly by a leafspring (not shown), extends through aligned mating holes in the upperand lower leg sections 16 and 14 to latch the telescoping uprightsupport member 12 in the expanded position.

[0028] As further shown in FIG. 2, each side of the canopy support 10 isformed by scissor assemblies 20, 20 pivotally joined end to end. Eachscissor assembly 20 is formed by two structural tubular members 22 and24, connected together at a central pivot 26, thus forming anessentially X-shaped assembly. The upper and lower outer ends of thescissor assemblies 20 are pivotally connected to upright support members12 at an upper stationary mount 30 and a lower slide mount 32,respectively. Forked sockets 58 on the outer ends of the scissorassemblies 20 pivotally connect to flanges 50 (see FIG. 3) on the uppermount 30 and lower mount 32.

[0029] As further shown in FIG. 2, the upper and lower inner ends ofadjacent scissor assemblies 20 are joined at floating brackets 38 and 42respectively.

[0030] The details of construction of floating bracket are best seen inFIG. 7. Floating bracket 38 includes a bracket 204 having two armsextending at essentially 90°, each arm of the bracket having an aperture(not shown), and integral (molded or welded) nut retainers 212 and 202.A cap screw 194 with lock nut 200 secures the upper inner ends of thescissor bars 22 and 24 to floating bracket 204 via pivot adapters 198and 196, disposed on the upper inner end of scissor bars 24 and 22respectively. Apertures 214 and 216 cut or formed in pivot adapters 198and 196 fit over the ends of scissor bars 24 and 22.

[0031] Floating bracket 42 is structured similarly to upper floatingbracket 38.

[0032] Structural details of stationary mount 30 and slide mount 32 aredisclosed in FIG. 3. The stationary mount 30 and slide mount 32 areformed of rigid material such as aluminum, and are disposed on uprightsupport 12 (FIG. 2). The stationary mount 30 has a cavity, sized tomatably receive the upper end portion of the upper leg structure 16, andis secured thereto with a suitable fastener such as screw 64, passingthrough a countersunk aperture, not shown, in the stationary mount 30.

[0033] The slide mount 32 is slidable on the upper leg structure 16.Expansion of the canopy support 10 operates to raise the slide mountupwards along the upper leg structure 16 to a position proximate to butspaced from the stationary mount 30. The mount 32 is latched as follows.As the slide mount 32 approaches stationary mount 30, an abutmentsurface 72 on the slide mount 32 selectively compresses an outwardlyspring-biased abutment button 68 on the upper leg structure 16, therebyenabling an aperture 70, cut in slide mount 32, to receive the abutmentbutton, locking the slide mount 32 in a position corresponding to anerected canopy support.

[0034] To collapse the canopy support 10, the abutment button 68 isdepressed on each upright support member 12, releasing the slide mount32 from its locked position. As the upright support members 12 arebrought together, the scissor assemblies 20 operate to move the slidemounts 32 to the lower ends of the upper legs 16.

[0035] With further reference to FIG. 3, each stationary mount 30 andslide mount 32 have a pair of flange assemblies 52 projecting outwardlyfrom the central section of their respective mounts at essentially rightangles to each another. As seen at the upper left portion of FIG. 3,each flange structure 52 includes a sheath 56 made of a suitable plasticmaterial fitted snugly over a flange 54. The sheath 56 minimizesfrictional wear during expansion and contraction of the canopy support10.

[0036] An aperture 74 in the sheath 56 aligns with an aperture 72 in theflange 54. The flange structure 52 is inserted into the slot formed byarms 76, 78 of the forked socket 58, with the aperture 80, molded in theforked socket, aligned with the apertures 72 and 74 in the flangeassembly 52. A fastening cap screw 60 and locking hex nut 62 secure theflange assembly 52 within the forked socket 58. A molded nut retainerand lock 82 in arm 76 of the forked socket 58 is provided to hold thenut 62 stationary as the screw 60 is turned to assemble the unit.

[0037] Flanges 52 on the stationary and slide mounts 30 and 32 arehorizontally distanced from the horizontal center of their respectivemounts such that the horizontal distance between the center of a flangeis substantially equal to the width of a forked socket. Thus, scissorassembly 20 exhibits negligible torque and deflection when pivoted withrespect to its upright support member 12.

[0038]FIGS. 4 and 5 show the canopy support with a center dome assembly100 at the apex of the canopy support 10, pivotally connected to theinner ends of a plurality of roof support struts 104 and an extensionstruts 102. There are four roof support struts 104, and four extensionstruts 102. The outer end of each extension strut 102 is pivotallyconnected to its roof support strut 104 at a first pivotal connection108, at a position along the roof support strut 104 determined so thatan essentially right triangle is formed by the vertical sleeve 120 andits post 122, the horizontal extension strut 106, and its angled roofsupport strut 104.

[0039]FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the first pivotal connection108 (FIGS. 4 and 5) between a strut 102 and a strut 104. All fourassemblies are the same. The outer end of the extension strut 102 isinserted into cavity 176 in end cap 178. Aperture 180, molded in end cap178, aligns with an apertures 182 through the outer end of extensionstrut 102. Made of a molded material such as plastic, pivot mount 184 isslide-fitted over roof support strut 104, and has an aperture 186 whichaligns with an aperture (not shown) through roof support strut 104. Acap screw 188 and hex lock nut 192 connects extension strut 102 to roofsupport strut 104. A molded nut retainer in adapter 178 locks nut 192against rotation as cap screw 188 is rotated into assembly.

[0040] Each roof support strut 104 includes a second pivotal connection110 for the distal end of a stabilizing strut 106, at a position belowthe first pivotal connection 108. Structural details are the same as aconnection 108.

[0041] The lower ends of the stabilizing strut 106 and the roof supportstrut 104 are pivotally connected to upper and lower floating brackets38 and 42 respectively. Details of construction of the two identicalbrackets 38, 42 are set forth above.

[0042] As best seen in FIG. 5, the center dome assembly 100 supports theapex of the canopy 11, and includes an upper support sleeve 120 with adomed cap 124, telescopically mounted over a lower support post 122.

[0043]FIG. 8 illustrates the construction details of the center domeassembly. Central slide mount 120 is hollow and slidably received on thesupport 122. Central stationary mount 128 has a cavity 140 received bythe lower end of the support post 122, and is secured in position by apair of screws 142, passing through countersunk apertures 144 in thesupport post 122. An internal friction reduction device 146 is insertedbetween the support sleeve 120 and the support post 122 and is securedby retaining nodes 148 extending through apertures 150 cut through thesupport sleeve 120.

[0044] Central stationary mount 128 and central slide mount 126 have aplurality of flange assemblies 152, each made up of flanges 154 and snugfitting sleeves 156, which are of the same general constructionpreviously disclosed in respect to stationary mount 30 and slide mount32. Flanges 152 on the central slide and stationary mounts 126 and 128are horizontally offset from the horizontal center of their respectivemounts, such that negligible torque and deflection are sustained by theextension strut 102 and roof support strut 104. The flange assemblies152 on both the central stationary mount 128 and central slide mount 126are pivotally attached to forked socket 158 and secured by cap screw 160and lock nut 162 retained in the molded body of the forked socket 158.

[0045] The pivoting mechanism disposed on the center support post 100 isthe same as the pivoting mechanism on the upright support members 12.

[0046]FIG. 9 shows the compact arrangement of the canopy support 10 whenfully collapsed. The four upright support members 12 form the outercorners of the collapsed structure, with the upper stationary mounts 30and the lower slide mounts 32 at the distal ends of the upright supportmembers 12.

[0047] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. An expandable and collapsible canopy support comprising: aplurality of upright support members; a plurality of sides, each sidecomprising a pair of end to end interconnected scissors assemblies; eachsaid scissors assembly comprising two tubular scissor bars connectedtogether at a central pivot, each scissors assembly having a pair ofinner and outer ends, said inner ends pivotally connecting said pair ofscissor assemblies, said outer ends pivotally connecting to said uprightsupports; a plurality of corner mounts disposed on said uprightsupports, said corner mounts each comprising an upper stationary mountand a lower slide mount, each of said corner mounts comprising aplurality of flanges extending therefrom, a pivoting support and afastener, each of said flanges having an aperture extendingtherethrough, said pivoting support means comprising a forked socketengaging said flange, said socket having a pair of arms with an apertureextending through said arms; said fastener retaining said flange withinsaid socket, said socket disposed on each of said outer ends of saidscissors assembly; a roof support assembly comprising a center domeassembly, a central slide mount, a central stationary mount, and aplurality of roof truss members, said center dome assembly comprising anupper sleeve telescopically receiving an inner post, said upper sleeveslidably receiving said central slide mount and said inner postreceiving said central stationary mount, a pair of said centralstationary mount fixed on the lower end thereof; and said roof trussmembers comprising hollow tubular struts of varying lengths, said rooftruss members including a roof support strut, an extension strut, and astabilizing strut, said roof support strut having a first, second,third, and fourth pivotal connections disposed at selective positions,along said roof support strut; said first pivotal connection attached tosaid central slide mount; said second pivotal connection disposed belowthe first pivotal connection and pivotally attaching said extensionstrut, the distal end of said extension strut pivotally connected tosaid central stationary mount; said third pivotal connection disposedbelow said second pivotal connection, pivotally attaching the upper endof said stabilizing strut, the lower end of said stabilizing strutpivotally attached to the upper of said pair of floating brackets; saidfourth pivotal connection, connecting the lower end of said roof supportstrut to the lower of said pair of floating brackets.
 2. The canopysupport according to claim 1, wherein said flanges on said upperstationary mount and said lower slide mount are horizontally offset fromthe center of their respective mounts such that the horizontal distancebetween the horizontal centers of same side-facing flanges on said upperstationary mount and said lower slide mount is generally equal to thewidth of said scissor bar.
 3. The canopy support according to claim 1,wherein said central slide mount and central stationary mount have aplurality of said flanges, each of said flanges extending outward toeach side of said canopy support, and having said pivotal support meansand said securing means thereupon.
 4. The canopy support according toclaim 1, wherein said flanges on said central stationary mount and saidcentral slide mount are horizontally offset from the center of theirrespective mount such that the horizontal distance between thehorizontal centers of same side-facing flanges on said centralstationary mount and said central slide mount is generally equal to thewidth of said roof truss members.
 5. A pivot mechanism for collapsibleframes which comprises a scissors assembly, an upper mount, and a lowermount; said scissors assembly comprising: two tubular scissors barsconnected together by a central pivot, one end of each said bar forminga pair of scissors ends; each of said mounts further comprising aplurality of flanges extending therefrom, a pivoting support, and afastener; said flanges having an aperture extending therethrough; saidpivoting support comprising a forked socket engaging said flange, saidsocket having a pair of arms with an aperture extending through saidarms, said fastener retaining said flange within said socket; saidsocket disposed on each end of said pair of scissors ends.